The mother of a 4-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by a neighbour in Kerala has alleged that a local CPM leader is trying to shield the accused and offered her Rs. 2000/- to keep quiet.
The incident has been reported from Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The child, who is originally from Assam, was sexually assaulted on 31 March by a neighbour Chandan Kumar when she was alone. Kumar is from Marthandam, TN and is said to be working as a labor for local CPM leader and Panchayat Ward Member, MA Salim. Some reports have also claimed that Kumar is a CITU (CPM’s Trade Union) activist.
Salim is also the owner of the house where the victim’s family lives. The assault came to light after a few days when the child revealed her ordeal to her mother, who then along with neighbours called Childline. The mother alleges that Salim tried to hush up the case and offered her Rs. 2000/- to get the girl treated in hospital.
This video purportedly shows the victim’s mother narrating her ordeal –
Kerala
4 year old Bengali girl is raped.
Her mother tries to speak. Listen to her helplessness.
You won’t see her on MSM. Only one TV Channel, run by swayamsevaks. has taken this interview.A local Marxist leader, Salim, is trying to save the Rapist. pic.twitter.com/So9t2NueVE
— I stand with Mahesh Hegde (@PartyVillage017) April 18, 2018
An FIR has now been lodged and sections of POCSO have been applied. The accused is on the run and investigation is underway.
Mirror Now has reported on this case –
There have been other incidents in recent past where CPM members or their family have been involved in rape. In February, CPM member Sasidharan (64) was arrested for raping a 13-year-old differently-abled Tamil minor girl. Last year, Faisal, the son of a CPM member of Nedumpana Panchayath, was arrested for raping a 16-year-old along with 2 others. In 2016, a CPM MLA K. Radhakrishnan was criticized for naming a rape victim while making an announcement about the suspension from the party of P.N. Jayanthan, a municipal councillor accused of gang-rape by a married woman.
Did you find this article useful? We’re a non-profit. Make a donation and help pay for our journalism.
